Latest update November 30th, 2024 12:03 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

That ‘reckless and irresponsible’ statement by Guysuco needs clarification

Jan 03, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Like thousands of other people, I am also shocked by the reckless and irresponsible statement by the Guysuco official that US$3M loss in revenue, attributed to the ongoing fiasco at the new Skeldon factory, “is irrelevant”. US$3M is G$600M. This amount of money is equivalent to 4½% increase in wages and salaries to all sugar workers or 12 days pay for them as Annual Production Incentive (API).
Only recently the company said as a result of declining production this year, which has adversely affected the availability of cash, that it cannot afford any production bonus this year.
The recently concluded arbitration tribunal stated that its award of 6% across the board increase took into consideration the weak financial position of the company. The President himself said a few days ago that it’s unreasonable for GAWU and the sugar workers to demand an API this year when production tumbled from an estimate earlier this year of 315,000 tonnes to 225,000 at the end of the year. I couldn’t agree more with the statements by the arbitration tribunal and the President, but when I read the statement by the Guysuco official I had to ask whether the tribunal or the President were either serious or sincere.
At a time when the sugar industry is reeling from mismanagement by Booker Tate that led to this year’s production being the lowest since 1990, it’s a corporate crime for this official to state that G$600M loss in revenue is irrelevant. Maybe, it’s irrelevant to the fees and perquisites that the handful of Booker Tate officials receives, but for the average sugar worker, it’s a fortune.
There should be a clarion call by all sugar workers, even if it entails demonstrations for which they are quite good, for the government to identify who this official is and fire him/her on the spot.
If this official is to disclose that he/she was advised by any government functionary to state as he/she did, then the functionary should be sacked also.
It’s a glorious opportunity for the GAWU and NAACIE to demand the reopening of negotiations for API and further increase for wages for this year in light of US$3M loss in revenue being deemed to “irrelevant” by Guysuco.
Rudolph Ramsammy

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Guyana Beverages Inc. partners with GFF for Maid Marian Wheat Up Women’s Cup

Guyana Beverages Inc. partners with GFF for Maid Marian Wheat Up...

Nov 29, 2024

  (GFF) — Guyana Beverages Inc (GBI) in an effort to contribute to the development of women’s football has partnered with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) as a sponsor of the Maid Marian...
Read More
GFF provides support to EBFA U14 Boys’ League

GFF provides support to EBFA U14 Boys’ League

Nov 29, 2024

Athletics scores big at NSC National Sports Awards

Athletics scores big at NSC National Sports

Nov 29, 2024

St. Theresa’s Primary triumph in Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ National Finals

St. Theresa’s Primary triumph in Republic Bank...

Nov 29, 2024

Wakenaam Masters to face Parika Defenders in T20 softball affair on Saturday night

Wakenaam Masters to face Parika Defenders in T20...

Nov 29, 2024

Bakewell supports Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tourney

Bakewell supports Kashif and Shanghai Futsal...

Nov 28, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]